BE A KID
JUNE
05
Boulder, CO
JUNE
12
Boulder, CO
JUNE
26
Oakland, CA
JULY
03
Oakland, CA
JULY
10
Oakland, CA
Trans Camp!
Camp Indigo was founded on the belief that trans and gender diverse kids deserve a 'normal' summer day camp experience. When so much of a child's life is based on educating others and trying to find their place in the world, Camp Indigo is what childhood is meant to be: fun, friend-centered, and full of wonder.
_websize.jpg)
We're Andrew and Katie - Founders of Camp Indigo and lovers of all things summer! We've had such a blast growing up with our camper families over the past 8 summers and modeling what life, love and parenthood can look like for our kids.
We. love. camp. There is nothing quite like singing "Rattlin' Bog" at the top of your lungs, wearing your favorite hot pink sequined jacket, and laughing your guts out with 150 kids who are here for the same reason you are - to play, to connect, to experience real joy.
"As a parent of a kid who has attended this camp for three years now, and who hears about this camp and all it’s glittery glory all year long, I want to say that I am so so grateful for the work you do with these kids. I have no doubt that you are quite literally saving lives in providing the safe and affirming space for our kids to be all of whoever it is they need and want to be." - Parent of 11 year old camper
What to Expect:
For Youth 4-11
Camp Indigo follows a structured model of learning and play. Kids are grouped by age and rotate into art, science, and play-based classes. Campers can interact and connect across age groups at morning welcoming and lunch time activities!
Art
DIY Kaleidoscopes, puppet making, self portraits and more!
Science
Solar powered ovens to make smores, ice cream in a bag, the possibilities are endless!
Play
Identity BINGO, Impromptu dance parties, every version of tag on earth, and costume fashion shows - to name a few!
Teen Camp
Step away from the screen, and let's make
Trans and GNC friends!
Youth ages 12-17 can opt into teen-specific programming that focuses on community building through (for example) art, music, poetry, exploration of trans history and trans focused sex education. The Teen Camp runs from 9am-3pm M-F.
"Our family has been a part of camp since the beginning. It's been such a joy to see our daughter find herself and her community here. We're so grateful for everything this camp provides!"
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does camp cost?
Registration is $450/week. This fee covers the cost of staffing, materials, facility fees, insurance, teen activities, and more! Full price registration fees also help us to provide scholarships to ensure that all trans and non-binary youth have access to camp.
What are the hours?
Both locations (Oakland and Boulder) run 9am-3pm.
I have a gay daughter. Can I send her to this camp?
Love that for her! Camp Indigo is a camp for trans and non-binary youth. We are not an "LGBTQ camp." So - though we love queer youth, this isn't the right space for your kiddo.
My kid is really resistant to a camp all about being trans. He want's to just be a "normal boy." How do I convince him to attend?
We like to say that this is a camp for trans youth, but that it's not a camp about being trans. Yes, there are certainly campers who wear that trans flag loud. and. proud. AND we have an equal amount of young folks (and staff) who are stealth and/or who don't want to talk about being trans. There is a space for all of us. Conversations about trans identities and experiences come up naturally (and often) amongst the teens. Our younger campers do participate in some trans-centered story time and identity-centered projects.
There is nothing more important than community. It's where we feel our most validated, where we see ourselves in others, where we meet our people. Give us a try - you'll be glad you did!
Do you happen to offer scholarships?
We sure do! No applications or emails needed. Just go ahead and use one of the codes below for 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% off:
Indigo25
Indigo50
Indigo75
Indigo100
These discounts ensure that cost is no barrier for our community of campers. Please take what you need.
Are there any sibling or multi-session discounts?
There sure are! These will apply automatically at check-out. You can also use the codes above in addition to the sibling and multi-session discounts.
What's your refund policy?
We offer 100% refunds up until 30 days before camp.
Is this an overnight camp? And can the whole family come?
We are a DAY camp - which means we send your kids on home at 3pm. Kids only!
Are you running camp on July 4th?
YES. Is there anything more patriotic than being trans??
Do you offer any programming for parents/ care givers?
Yes! There are two care-giver led sessions per day (9:30am and 2pm), and these are a great way to make connections with other families, to boost your own knowledge of trans allyship, and to allow yourself the space to process and feel all of the things that come along with parenting trans youth. Our families LOVE these!
Where are the camps located?
We run one camp in south Boulder (Colorado) and one camp in north Oakland (California). Exact locations are given out after registration.
You serve kids 4-17. Are they all together? Or, how do you group the kids?
Great questions! We have one camp for kids 4-11 and one for kids 12-17 (with the option for 12 year olds to flex down or flex up depending on maturity and interests). Within those respective camps are even smaller groupings based on age. We often have 10-11 year olds together and 14-17 year olds together (for example). Teen programming is different and aligns with the interests of that respective age group.
Okay cool. So what exactly do the teens do all day?
It depends on the day! We often go offsite for Pride events, museums, scavenger hunts, etc, or stay on campus for music production, poetry, theater, cooking "classes," comic books, and more. There's also a reasonable amount of down time to allow our teens to connect organically.
Will my teen/kid become "more trans" after this camp? I'm worried that they will be influenced by others to want things (like surgeries, hormones, etc) more urgently...
After running camp for 8 years we can say that gender exploration looks different for everyone. That said it isn't uncommon for teens (especially) to see/learn about possibilities that they hadn't yet considered and to feel a strong need to make gender affirming changes. Our advice to families is to acknowledge and affirm these desires and to show a good faith effort towards meeting those needs. We really encourage avoiding statements like, "what if you change your mind?" This doesn't typically land well with our kiddos!
Younger campers tend to just leave camp exhausted, but not more trans than when they started ;)